At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump, once a leader who captivated enormous crowds, found himself addressing a diminishing audience. Midway through his speech, a significant number of attendees began walking out, reportedly due to boredom and exhaustion. This moment reflects a broader trend that has been emerging over the past several months: Trump’s once-legendary ability to attract and hold the attention of his supporters appears to be fading.

Trump’s speeches have always been a cornerstone of his political identity. In the past, he would boast about filling stadiums and drawing larger crowds than his competitors, which he saw as evidence of his popularity and dominance. Yet, a photo from a recent rally in Glendale, Arizona, revealed a stark reality: after just five minutes of his speech, the crowd was packed, but an hour later, the audience had visibly thinned. This thinning out has become more common at his rallies, as supporters appear less engaged with the same rhetoric they once found inspiring.

One of the reasons for the diminishing enthusiasm could be the content of Trump’s speeches. His rhetoric often centers on repeating familiar themes—immigration, border security, and his self-proclaimed role as America’s “protector.” At the Pennsylvania rally, Trump reiterated this role, using language that echoed a cult-like mentality. “I am your protector,” he said, emphasizing his belief that, as president, he was the only one who could keep Americans safe from threats, both foreign and domestic. He promised protection from violence in cities, danger in the suburbs, and threats at the border.

This language struck a chord with some commentators, who pointed out the striking similarity between Trump’s rhetoric and that of historical cult leaders like Jim Jones. Jones, too, promised to protect his followers, often portraying himself as their savior in a corrupt and dangerous world. Such language creates a sense of dependency and fear, where the leader is seen as the only one capable of providing safety and security. Trump’s comments about being the sole protector of America’s citizens feed into this narrative, which is unsettling for those who value democratic principles.

Beyond the rhetoric of protection, Trump’s tone took a bizarre turn when discussing his relationship with women. During the rally, he claimed, “I always thought women liked me. I never thought I had a problem.” This statement seemed to be a response to reports that his support among female voters had declined. While Trump dismissed these concerns as “fake news,” his words reflected an outdated, self-assured confidence that felt out of touch with reality. Critics were quick to point out that this kind of remark is common among misogynists who mistakenly believe that women are naturally drawn to them.

As the rally progressed, footage posted online showed more attendees standing up and leaving, indicating a growing disinterest. The sight of people filing out while Trump was still speaking stands in sharp contrast to the packed stadiums Vice President Kamala Harris has drawn in recent weeks. At a rally in Glendale, Arizona, Harris attracted nearly 20,000 attendees, despite extreme heat. The energy and excitement around her events highlight a sharp contrast to Trump’s increasingly deflated rallies.

However, it is essential to note that crowd sizes do not necessarily predict election outcomes. While Trump’s rallies may be shrinking, and Harris’s events are growing, this alone doesn’t guarantee electoral success. Trump himself famously had large crowds during his 2020 campaign, but ultimately lost the election. What matters more is the voter turnout on election day, not just the size of the rally crowds.

Despite the visible thinning of his crowds, Trump continues to emphasize cultural issues, particularly those involving the LGBTQ+ community and critical race theory. His audience often responds more enthusiastically to these topics than to discussions about the economy or policy proposals. Trump has even acknowledged this, admitting that when he talks about the economy, the crowd is silent, but when he discusses transgender issues, “the crowd goes wild.” This shift in focus reveals that Trump’s base is increasingly drawn to culture war topics, rather than substantive political issues.

While Trump’s rallies are no longer the massive spectacles they once were, they still serve as a platform for him to engage with his core supporters. However, the thinning crowds and the increasingly repetitive rhetoric may signal that Trump’s once-magnetic appeal is waning. As his political career progresses, it remains to be seen whether he can adapt and reignite the enthusiasm that once defined his movement, or if his supporters will continue to lose interest as they did in Pennsylvania.